A mum who had ­symptoms of dementia when she was only 37 is living in fear of not recognising her teenage daughter.

Kelly Watson started to slur words and struggle with ­co-ordination five years ago.

Doctors said her worst fears were exaggerated because she was too young. Most likely she was bipolar or depressed.

But after tests and a brain scan she got the horrifying diagnosis of early-onset dementia on her 41st birthday last June.

Her story closely mirrors the plot of the film Still Alice, which won Julianne Moore the Best Actress Oscar this year.

Kelly, of Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, goes to a dementia ­support group five days a week and is the youngest by 20 years.

She told the Sunday People: “Doctors predict my mind will deteriorate in a matter of years. I will forget I’m a mum, forget my beautiful girl Holly.

"I ­wanted to see her graduate, get married and have kids. It’s all been stolen from me.”

Days out: Kelly and Holly want to make the most of their time together (Image: SWNS)

Until 2011 Kelly was a hard-working civil servant living with a partner and Holly, now 17. But she began to have mood swings, slur her speech and forget simple words.

Her relationship broke down and in February 2014 she had to leave her job. She could not write and kept losing things such as her purse and keys.

Confused and unable to ­afford her house, she and Holly moved in with her mother nearby.

Kelly said: “My mum started helping me dress as I struggled. She even had to wash my hair and shave my legs for me.” After brain scans and ­cognitive tests the bad news came in a letter listing the results.

Family support: Holly, Kely and her mum Moira Bell, 62, who now cares for her (Image: SWNS)

“My brain was in ‘cognitive decline’. We were shattered. With so much life ahead of me it seemed so unfair,” said Kelly.

“How do you tell your own daughter there will come a time that I may not remember who she is?

"But Holly has been so brave, kind and understanding.”

Kelly tries to keep her brain ­active with arts, crafts and ­quizzes at her support group.

She explained: “I go five days a week and wear my old office clothes. Fighting dementia has become a full-time job.

“I’m scared I’ll forget Holly, my ­parents and my brother and ­sisters. But mostly I feel lucky to have their love and support.”